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THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

[109] THE NORTH WIND and the Sun
had a quarrel about which of
them was the stronger. While
they were disputing with much
heat and bluster, a Traveler
passed along the road wrapped
in a cloak.

"Let us agree," said the Sun,
"that he is the stronger who can
strip that Traveler of his cloak."

"Very well," growled the
North Wind, and at once sent a
cold, howling blast against the
Traveler.

With the first gust of wind
the ends of the cloak whipped
about the Traveler's body. But
he immediately wrapped it
closely around him, and the
harder the Wind blew, the tighter
he held it to him. The North
Wind tore angrily at the cloak,
but all his efforts were in vain.

Then the Sun began shine.
At first his beams were gentle,
and in the pleasant warmth. after
the bitter cold of the North Wind,
the Traveler unfastened his cloak
and let it hang loosely from his
shoulders. The Sun's rays grew
warmer and warmer. The man
took off his cap and mopped
his brow. At last he became so
heated that he pulled off his
cloak, and, to escape the blazing
sunshine, threw himself down in
the welcome shade of a tree by
the roadside.